Total Syntheses from A to Z

As a scientific discipline, total synthesis has its formative roots in the
mid-19th century, primarily as means for confirmation of structure. In those
early days, the analytical tools available to the synthetic chemist were
extraordinarily basic, so following in nature's footsteps was essential in the
process of characterisation. In the centuries which have passed, the phenomenal
advances in spectroscopy and crystallography have left few unknowns in the
course of structure determination - so, why in this day of such powerful
analytical tools, do we continue to emulate nature?

Perhaps the most important rationale is as a 'real-world' test-bed for new
synthetic methodology. Sometimes the methodology is well-understood through
model studies prior to the total synthesis; other times, the methodology is
created as a means to an end during the synthetic campaign. But nothing quite
confirms the utility of a new method than it's employ in the critical stages of
a total synthesis.

Another excellent grant-winner is confirmation, scale-up and analogue
synthesis of recently uncovered biochemically active species. To fully
understand their potential therapeutic potency, the vanishing small samples
obtained via in-situ isolation are rarely enough - so we rely on synthetic means
to keep the biologists busy.

But perhaps the most important impact a total synthesis can have is the
excellent training it provides for the next generation of synthetic chemists -
both in their chemical education, and also in the softer skills of
problem-solving and project management.